In Australia, according to a report from the ABS (Internet Activity, Australia, Dec 2011 8153.0), at the end of December 2011, there were 11.0 million mobile handset subscribers in Australia, which is an increase of 13.6% from June 2011. ISP’s also reported that the volume of data downloaded by Australians with internet access via their mobile was 5,000 Terabytes, an increase of 35.3% from June 2011. If this trend continues, the global prediction that mobile Internet usage will soon surpass desktop Internet usage is likely to become a reality sooner rather than later.
And don’t forget about the proliferation of tablets.
So why should you care? Well, have you ever browsed a site on your mobile phone and become supremely frustrated when you have to pinch and scroll around as the page reloads and just given up? Well compare this to the experience you have when you access a mobile friendly interface, that within a few quick taps gives you exactly what you need like an update on your bank balance or when the next train will arrive. As mobile Internet usage continues to increase in Australia and around the globe, users are going to become less patient and forgiving of an unfriendly mobile interface and will become more likely to visit the more mobile friendly competitors. So don’t be a laggard, share the mobile love and make your website mobile friendly.
Make sure your developers and designers know about mobile phone technologies and techniques such as responsive design.
Thirsty for more interesting stats? This is a very cool infographic from Microsoft.
Learn More about Mobile Tagging at Microsoft Tag.